2 hurt, including firefighter, in Pilsen blaze

July 03, 2010

A Chicago firefighter and a teen were slightly injured in an extra-alarm fire at a three-story apartment building in the Pilsen neighborhood on the Near West Side.

The teen, a 14-year-old boy who had to be rescued by firefighters from the first floor from the building where the fire started, suffered a minor leg injury and was taken to the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago for treatment, fire officials said.

Fire officials said the firefighter was being examined after falling down some stairs in that building.

Two other apartment buildings are sustained minor damage.

Although the cause of the fire remained under investigation, sources said the fire may have been caused by children playing with fireworks.

Chicago firefighters break the windows of a third floor apartment in one of three buildings that cuaght fire in the Pilsen area today. The roof collapsed on to the third floor of the building pictured, where the fire started. (Abel Uribe/ Chicago Tribune)

Firefighters responded to the scene of the blaze that erupted about 10 a.m. in the building at 1510 W. 17th St., said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Joe Roccasalva.

The fire appeared to have began on the third floor of the building, Roccasalva said, adding that heavy flames could be seen from the building's rear upon the firefighters' arrival.

The flames spread to a neighboring 2 1/2-story apartment building, but firefighters contained those flames before they could do any serious damage to that structure, Roccasalva said.

The fire was designated as a 3-11 alarm--which calls for more than 100 firefighters to be sent to the scene--so more firefighters could relieve others working to put out the flames during the hot weather.

"It's a hot fire, it's a hot day and they're wearing hot clothes," said Larry Langford, another Fire Department spokesman. "They can only work so long in those conditions."

Flames at the 1510 building, caused its roof to cave in, Roccasalva said. As of noon, the fire has since been put out.

Five families occupied the 1510 building, said Chicago Buildings Department Commissioner Richard Monocchio. The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago is helping those displaced by the fire, offering shelter, food and clothing, but the exact number of those received aid had not been determined by about 3 p.m. today, according to a Red Cross spokesman.

The Fire Department's office of fire investigation was also on the scene as the cause of the blaze was trying to be determined.